"We welcome the statement of Drian--It is heartening to note that the West has realized the concerns expressed by India over terrorism from time to time," Panun Kashmir President Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo said.

The Defence Minister of France, who was on a three-day visit to New Delhi from July 26, termed the concentration of terrorists in Pakistan as worrisome over the possession of nuclear weapons by that country.

In a statement, Drian said, "Everyone knows that terrorists continue to be present in Pakistan and the international terrorist networks take advantage of the certain relays." The French minister had said the alleged masterminds of the 26/11 attacks are also still roaming free.

"While expressing his views in the meeting the Minister said that there is now an increased awareness among the western leaders over the dangers of terrorism emanating from the territory of Pakistan," Chrungoo said.

"It may be pertinent to mention here that the British Prime Minister David Cameron on his previous visit to India had said that Pakistan is the Epicentre of Global terrorism," he claimed.

"We also endorse the US State department's stand that as long as Pakistan allows its territory to be used for terror and terrorism, peace will be a distant dream," Chrungoo said. He said the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community is a direct victim of terrorism and ethnic cleansing in Kashmir and expressed satisfaction over the western stand in the context of global fight against terrorism.